Automatic pipe connection.



J. W. ROBERTS.

AUTOMATIC PIPE CONNECTION.

APPLICATION ILLED MAY 23, 191-1.

Patented Dec. 22. 1914.

INVENTOR.

WITNESSETD.

JOHN W. ROBERTS, OF SARNIA. ONTARIO, CANADA.

AUTOMATIC PIPE CDNNECTION.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN W. Ronnu'rs, of the town of Sarnia, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, a subject of the King of Great Britain, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Pipe Connections, of which the following is a s ecification.

his invention relates to means for automatically coupling together the air and steam pipes of railway rolling stock and my object is to devise a coupling which will not be expensive, which will not cause too great frictional losses in the traveling fluid, which will retain its initial efficiency during service, and which will effectively meet the other ret uirements of an efiicient coupling.

attain my objects by means of the constructions hereinafter specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawin s in Which igure 1 is a plan view showinga pair of couplings in coupling position; Fig. 2 a side elevation of the same partly in section; Fig.

spring 6. This is preferably 3 aside elevation of part of the coupling members of one of the couplings; Fig. 4 an end section of the same; and Figs. 5 and 6 details of a journaled pipe couplmg'used in connecting the coupling members with the air and steam pipes under the car body.

in the drawings like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawings.

1 is a supporting bracket comprising triangular side members adapted to be con nected with a draw bar of a railway car.

2 is a cross bar journaled inthe supporting bracket'and having the vertical bar 3 formed thereon. This bar 3 fits between the top and bottom parts of a box shaped frame 4 and is secured in pivotal relationship therewith by means of the bolt 5. The frame a is thus capable of both a vertical and horizontal swinging movement relative to the supporting bracket.

it is necessary to provide yielding means tending to maintain the'frame 4 in a normal position substantially horizontal and paral lel to the draw head from which it is suspended. For this purpose 3 fprovide the ormed with Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914. 1914. Serial No. senses.

a coil 7 at each side, arms 8 extending rearwardly from the coils and engaging under a cross bar 9 of the supporting bracket,and the forwardly extending arms 10 which support a roller 11 on which the box shaped frame -i rests. The arms 10 at their forward ends embrace the frame 4 and thus have a tendency to maintain it in alinement with the draw bar and also resiliently support the frame 4 to yieldingly maintain it in a predetermined horizontal position. The frame i supports the coupling members 12. These are preferably three in number and are superimposed on one another so that each may slide longitudinally of the frame independent of the others. It is necessary that each coupling member should be yieldingly extended so. that it may be maintained by spring pressure in contact with a corresponding coupling member of an opposed coupler. springs 13, each of which engages a boss 14 suitably supported at the rear of the frame 4 and the boss 15 on a corresponding coupling member.

It is necessary to limit the degree of extension of the couplers as a whole and also to limit the amount of independent movement of each coupling member. I therefore provide the surfaces of the coupling members adjacent one another with the bosses 16 shaped to slide on one another. Certain of these bosses are provided with the projections 17- which enter slots 18 in the adjacent bosses. These bosses are preferably provided both at the rear and front ends of the coupling members. Each coupling member thus has a limited independent motion longitudinal of the frame 4. As soon as this limit of movement in either direction is reached the member transmits any movement it may have to the adjacent coupling member. The extension of these oouplin members is limited by the stops 19 pro erably formed as straps secured to the sides of the frame 4 and passing around the bosses 16 as shown.

. The simultaneous longitudinal movement of the coupling members is important as it is necessary for them to extend or retract as a whole as the cars to which they are For this purpose I provide the connected come together or move apart owing to the slack usually provided in the draw bar connections. It is also of 1m portance that each should move independently as I depend for an air tight fit between two opposed coupling members on the proper engagement of flat washers which are indicated more particularly in Fig. 2. Around the bore of each coupling member is. fitted a washer or gasket 20 having a flat outer face which engages with the flat outer face of the asket of the opposed coupling member. T1888- washers frequently wear unevenly or become compressed toa greater or less degree. As I have arranged my coupling members the independent movement provided for takes care of any such variations and maintains each part of the opposed coupling members in air tight relationship.

It is important. of course to insure that opposed coupling members shall come into perfect alinement and shall be so locked together that as the train rounds a curve the coupling members shall remain in axial alinement. To accomplish this I provide the coupling members with the cheek pieces 21, one at each side, each cheek piece having its forward face inclined, the inclination being in opposite directions at opposite sides of the coupling members. The planes in which these faces lie intersect on a horizontal line in the plane of the front faces 22 of the coupling members. These cheek pieces, it will be noted, are divided horizontally on the planes of separation of the coupling members so that a portion of each cheek piece is connected with each of the three coupling members shown. Owing to this arrangement a portion 23 of each cheek piece projects in front of the plane of the front faces of the coupling members. These projecting portions 23 of one coupler will lie against the sides of the ends of the coupling members of an opposed coupler while the similar projecting portions of the 0pposed coupler will lie against the side faces 24 of the first mentioned coupler. The opposed couplers are thus accurately interlocked and held in alinement but without interfering with the limited freedom of motion provided for the individual coupling members. To guide the opposing coupling members together I provide each coupler with the outwardly curved guard 25 which is divided horizontally in the same manner as the cheek pieces. The mode of operation of the uards will be obvious from inspection of ig. 1. I

In some previously devised automatic couplers a good deal of.loss was experienced through friction of the air. and steam assi tain an easy flow of these uids in the foling around too many abru't turns. ob-

lowing manner: The forward portion of each coupling member has its axis substantially longitudinal of the coupler but the rearward end is curved laterally on an easy curve to one side or the other of the coupler. Each coupling member has connected therewith a curved pipe 26 which connects witha horizontal jou'rnaled pipe coupling 27. This in turn is provided with an elbow 28 which connects with the vertical j ournaled plpe coupling 29 which in turn connects with an elbow 30 connected with the pipe 31 which extends longitudinally of the car to which the device is applied. By this arrangement an easy flow is provided for the air or steam with but two short turns and these turns are on comparatively easy curves.

Only one of the coupling members is shown in the drawings provided with the couplings described, but it Will be understood that the others will be similarlyprovided.

lVhile any good journaled coupling may be employed I prefer the form shown more particularly in Fig. 5. 'In this figure 32 represents the spigot end of the coupling and 33 the socket end. The spigot end is provided with an enlargement 34 which bears against a screw cap 35 screwed onto the open end of the socket portion. 33. Between this enlargement and the wall of this socket suitable washers 36 are placed bearing against the cap. 'These washers are compressed by the action of the coil spring 37 which bears against the washers and against a shoulder 38 formed on the socket member. A separate coil spring 39 engages this shoulder 38 and the shoulder formed by the enlargement 34. 'This spring tends to maintain the opposite ends of the enlargement in close engagement with the cap 35. I thu'smaintain the washer in its seat and also a close engagement between the enlargement 34 and the cap 35. With this construction an air tight joint is maintained at all times. It will be noted that the flow through the coupling is absolutely unob-- structed.

I find that under certain conditions it is desirable to have the coupling members capable of rocking on the frame 4 on a vertical axis as wellas having the frame 4 adapted to swing on the supporting bracket 1. I therefore form the bosses {10 on the upper and-lower coupling members 12 which fit into the slots 41 formed in the top and bottom of the frame 4.. The sides of the frame 4 being open the coupling members as a whole may rock on; these bosses 40 as pivots to a limited extent, the pressure, of the springs 13, however, tends to maintain them in alinement with the' frame.

From the above description it will beseen that I have devised an automatic coupling m mes which will-satisfactprily attain the-objects of my invention as set out in the preamble tothis specification.

What I claim as'my invention is:

1. In an automatic pipe coupling for railway rolling stock the combination of a frame; a plurality of superimposed coupling members supported thereon and independently slidablethereon; a separate spring for each coupling member tending to extend the same; and means for limiting the extension of said members as a whole, the forward ends of the coupling members being shaped to form a head, divided horizontally and adapted to interlock with the similar head of an opposed coupling.

2. In an automatic pipe coupling for railway rolling stock the combination of a frame; a plurality of superimposed coupling members supported thereon and independently slidable thereon; a separate sprin for each coupling member tending to extend the same; means for limiting the extension of said members as a whole; and connections between said coupling members limiting the independent movement of each relative to the next adjacent member.

3. In an automatic pipe coupling for railway rolling stock the combination of 'a frame; a plurality of superimposed couphng members supported to move longitudinally of said frame either unitedly or independently; springs tending to extend said members; and means for limiting the extension of said members as a whole, the forward ends of the coupling'members' being shaped to form a head, divided horizontally and adapted to interlock with the similar head of an opposed coupling. a

4. In an automatic pipec'oupling for rail way rolling stock, the combination of a 'frame;'a plurality of superimposed independent coupling members supported to slide longitudinally thereon; connections between adjacent members comprising a projection on one member engaging a slot in the adjacent member; separate springs engaging the frame and the said members tending to extend the same; and means for limiting the extension of said members.

5. In an automatic pipe coupling for railway rolling stock the combination of a frame; a plurality of superimposed independently movable coupling members guided to move lengthwise of sai frame; contacting bosses at each end of said members forming bearing surfaces between them; a

means for limiting the independent movement of each member relative to the adjacent member comprising a projection on one of eachpair of contactin bosses engaging a slot in the op osed oss; separate springs engaging the rame and said members tending to extend the same; and limiting members secured tothe frame adapted to engage the forward sideof the rear bosses to limit theextension of said members.

6. In an automatic pipe coupling for railway rolling stock the combination of a supporting bracket; a frame vertically and horizontally pivoted thereon; spring supporting means engaging the bracket and frame tending to maintain the latter in normal position; and coupling members pivotally supported on said frame to swing horizontally.

7. In an automatic pipe coupling for railway rolling stock the combination of a supporting bracket; a frame vertically and horizontally pivoted thereon; spring supporting means engaging the bracket and frame tending to maintain the latter in normal position; coupling members pivotally supported on said frame to swing horizontally; and spring means tending to maintain said coupling members in a normal central position.

8. In an automatic pipe coupling for railway rolling stock the combination of a supporting bracket; a frame pivoted thereon to swing horizontally; spring means tending to maintain the frame in a normal central position;coupling members pivotally supported on said frame to swing horizontally; and spring means tending to maintain said coupling members in a normal central position. V

9. In an automatic pipe coupling for railway rolling stock the combination of a frame; a plurality of superimposed coupling members supported'thereon and inde; pendently slidable thereon; a se arate spring for each coupling member ten 'ng to extend the some; and means for limiting the railway rolling stock the combination of a frame; a plurality of superimposed couplin members sup orted thereon and indepen ently slidablet ereon; aseparate spring for each coupling member tending to extend the same; means for limiting the extension of said members as a whole, the said members having normally alined vertical front faces and cheeks formed at opposite sides of the outer ends of said couphn members one at each side and having them forward faces inclined in opposite directions, the planes in which said faces lie intersecting on a horizontal line in the plane of thefront faces of the coupling members, the said cheeks also being divided horizontally on the planes of separation of the coupling members; and an outwardly curved guard formed in parts integral with the parts of one of said cheeks and adapted to engage the outer surfaces of the adjacent cheek of we an opposed coupling.

Sarnia, Ont, this nineteenth day of May JOHN W. ROBERTS. Signed in the presence of IDA L. RHODES M. H. Pnnnnaoas'r. 

